AI makes human skills more important than ever in the world of work

The rapid development of AI-supported agents with their profound influence on the world of work is leading many observers to fear the marginalization of humans and the threat of mass unemployment. The new Workday study counters these reservations with a much more optimistic view of the future.

• Accordingly, the most active AI users also have the most positive view of its benefits (4.23 out of 5 points). Those who want to switch to AI in the next twelve months have the lowest score of 3.89 points and are therefore particularly skeptical.
• AI helps to free up human capacity for more important activities. 93 percent of active AI users state that artificial intelligence allows them to focus better on higher-level tasks such as strategy development and problem solving.
• Although there are social concerns that AI could affect trust, 90% of employees believe that artificial intelligence can ensure greater transparency and clearer accountability within the company. Managers and employees are close to each other here, with 92% and 89% respectively.
• They are less unanimous in their assessment of the need for interpersonal relationships in the age of artificial intelligence. While 82 percent of employees consider these to be necessary, only 65 percent of managers do.
• Unique human qualities such as ethical decision making, empathy, relationship building and conflict resolution skills are seen as essential for success in an AI-driven business world.

"The debates around artificial intelligence are often characterized by concerns and fear of job loss; we see AI as an incredible opportunity," emphasizes Jim Stratton, Chief Technology Officer, Workday. "It's our chance to focus on what makes us human - our creativity, our empathy and our ability to build relationships. With AI, we can create a work environment where these qualities are critical to success. Our study shows that employees are ready to embrace this opportunity."

People as a positive factor

According to the Workday study, 83% of respondents believe that AI will both increase the importance of human skills and enhance human creativity, thereby generating new types of economic value. A comparison with a study commissioned by Workday a few months earlier, in which only 52% of employees welcomed the use of AI in their workplace, also shows that attitudes towards AI in the workplace are becoming more positive. 

The findings of the current study underline the great importance of promoting typical human qualities such as creativity, leadership, learning ability, trust and collaboration, especially in an AI-driven world. We are at a tipping point that makes us collectively aware of how much AI will define the future of work and how important human qualities will be in that future - a tipping point towards an AI-driven skills revolution that has the potential to impact everyone in some way, from factory workers to data analysts.

"AI is propelling us into a future where we can use our innate human abilities to connect, create and innovate," says Sadie Bell, VP of People Systems at HPE. "This is not just about efficiency and problem solving, but about unleashing our potential to create a future that prioritizes skills like empathy, ingenuity and our shared humanity."

Almost all (93 %) of the active AI users state that the use of artificial intelligence helps them to focus on higher-level tasks such as strategy development and problem solving. But that's not all: active AI users have a consistently more positive attitude towards artificial intelligence. 92 percent of employees and 95 percent of managers share this view. Overall, the findings underscore the transformative potential of AI in the workplace to unleash human capacity for meaningful, innovative collaboration, unlocking new ideas and opportunities that enable organizations to adapt to economic change and thrive.

Human qualities count

AI is completely reshaping the way we work. 81% of respondents are aware that this will have an impact on the skills profile of their job. The top three AI application areas are data analytics (51 %), fraud detection and security monitoring (43 %) and human resources and talent acquisition (39 %). A number of employees will need to acquire new knowledge and skills, but they will also need to cultivate typically human traits to succeed in the AI age. In fact, the data reveals a clear trend: qualities that only humans possess will become even more important as AI usage increases.

"In 2025, AI will play an important role in unlocking efficiencies in the way people teams work, but it won't replace the essential human aspects of empathy, communication and relationship building," says Jennie Rogerson, Global Head of People at Canva."

The very skills that AI will not have in the foreseeable future are also the ones that will be most valuable in the workplace: ethical decision-making, networking and relationship building, emotional intelligence and empathy, and the ability to resolve conflict. Ethical decision-making is proving to be the most important skill across scenarios, both today and in an AI-dominated future.

Discrepancy in the evaluation of interpersonal relationships: Managers must act

It is striking how differently employees and managers rate the need for interpersonal relationships in the workplace. While 82% of employees believe that the desire for human interaction will increase, only 65% of managers share this view. For the latter, this offers an important opportunity to promote interpersonal interaction and build stable relationships with their team.

When asked about the impact of AI on leadership and management priorities, participants identified three key aspects: better data-driven decision-making processes, increased upskilling and training opportunities using AI technology and targeted resource allocation to mission-critical areas as a result of the automation of routine work through AI. The even weighting of the responses underlines the potential that is attributed to artificial intelligence in supporting managers in these areas - coupled with the expectation of being able to focus more on cultivating empathy and deeper team relationships.

Building trust together

AI is revolutionizing the world of work. 90 percent of employees believe that it can provide greater transparency and clearer accountability within the company. However, this benefit can only be realized if everyone involved is committed to using AI responsibly. There is a widespread expectation here: 54% of respondents believe that the technology sector will lead the way in implementing measures to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of AI. However, the shared responsibility attributed to individual organizations (12 %) and governments (12 %) reflects a broader sense that building trust in AI requires collaboration across different sectors.

Tech companies, the economy as a whole, but also government agencies need to work together to ensure that AI benefits everyone. This collaboration can lead to a future in which humans and AI create great things together.

Source: www.workday.com